F18 vs lightning. Round 1. FIGHT!

Was this diving punishment for the SkyDicks? An F18 was hit by a lightning strike scaring the ever living shit out of the pilot causing him to briefly try to take cover! The strike left a mark on the canopy of the aircraft.

According to the Tribunist the video was submitted by a Kuwaiti pilot that goes by the call sign Viper submitted the video to Ivyjack who then uploaded the video to facebook and instagram.

Barquist shared the footage on Facebook and Instagram. On Instagram, the video was viewed over 85,000 times. On Facebook, in less than 24 hours, it received more than 94,000 views.

During an interview, Barquist stated that he only has “limited” information about the clip, adding, “What a crazy video and the odds of a strike like that.”

The video really highlights the technology involved in creating some of the worlds most sophisticated fighters. Lightning strikes on small aircraft are rare due to their size while larger commercial aircraft are hit more frequently. Special composites and materials negate lightning from harming the aircraft. According to the NTSB the last confirmed commercial plane crash attributed to lightning occurred in 1967, when lightning caused a catastrophic fuel tank explosion.